Ventilator



A. L. LEE

VENTILATOR June 13, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Deo. 12, 1945 NL E Vm MH T R A.

r l m Y June 13, 1950 A. L. LEE 2,51535 vENTILA'roR Filed Dec. 12, w45 4 sheets-sheet 2 #New-ropa ARTHUR L LEE,

`Fune 13, 1950 A. L. LEE

i vENTILAToR Filed Dec. 12, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 /M/E/v TOR; j() ARTHUR L.. LEE, N

June 13, 1950 A. l.. LEE vENT'ILA'ToR 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Deo. l2, 1945 /NVE/v TOR; ARTHUR l.. LEE,

HTT'Y i taken on line 3-3 of Fig.' 2

Patented .une 13, 1950 stares! 2,5Sil,535f

2,511,535 VENTILATEUR Arthur L. Lee,j Upper Arlington, 'Ghia-assigner,

b'ykmesne assignments, tti-The JeffreyiManfturing Company, a corporation-of Ohio Application neeembrer 12, .llsiaserial .634.4143

My invention relates to ventilators andv more particularly, but not necessarily, to ventilators .adapted yfor use in Ventilating underground mines.

In large mines ventilators are generally placed above ground and connected to vent passage- Ways of thek mines for constantly changing the air therein. Itis pertinent in mining that-the ventilators vbe kept in continuous operation. In the past, in order to lubriate the "fan arbor or spindle of such ventilators, it has been neces-1Y sary for a maintenance man to enter the ventila- ,tor housing While the ventilator was in operation. To this end it has been customary to associate an vair lock withthe ventilator housing to permit a person to enter the housing While` .the-.ventilator is in'operation. Accordingly, in vorder to obviate the necessity of a persons entrance into the ventilator andtherebytheneces- `sity of the air locks it is 'an objeCt of my invention to provide an improved Ventilator or ian" spindle contained Within the spindle housinghaving a closed lubricating system including a sump adapted to contain a quantity of lubricant from which the arbor. or spindle b earingsare lubricated and to .provide meanspositioned outside of the ventilator housing for determining Ythe quantity of lubricant in the sump and for introducing lubricant thereinto While the ventilator'isin operation.

It is another object of my invention to pro- Vide in an arbor or spindlean improved lubrication system .wherein r"lubri'cant vis caused to be Vraised vfrom a sump and to flow' by reason vof gravity into and through the arbor or spindle. bearings While the arbor or spindle is injoperation.

' Still another object ofthe invention is v"tojprovide. in anfarbor or spindle 'Whereinthe spindle shaft is supported in separately enclosed bearings an improved lubrication system wherein thearbor or spindle axis oftheventilator;

Fig. 4 Vis a. sectional view drawn to av Vlarger scale, the view'being taken on line 4-4 of Fig; 2;

Fig; '5 is a 'view 'of 'the 'arbor'housing end' cover plates shown in Figsf2g`3, and 4;

'.Fig. 6 is avievvof'a preferred form of mechanism Vby which' 'the level of -the-"lubricant `within 'the arbor or spindle housing is 'determined-Troni outside the ventilator housing andby whiclilu'bricant is introduced'thereinto while the ventilator is in operation;

Figj'is a diagrammatic 'fragmentary view in plan of a `ventilator 'embodying 'another form'of i'ny invention;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevationalsecti'onal View of the ianarbor orspindle used `in the'embodiment of 'the @invention shownin'Fig; 7', the sectionbein'g taken inV a vertical planein-tersec't- 'ing the arbor'or'spindleaiiis :and

Fig. 9" is a View in `section of a drive shaft and 'its housing, thel'view being taken on line 9'-9"o'f Fi"g.2

Referring 'particularly to Fig. `1 of the drawlings, the ventilator shown thereinV includes va lcasing or 'housing e lil' that iscomprisedof va lportion H 'of `i:"e'ctangular'crosssectionv that -Inay 'be 'connecte'dto a-vent`shaftof ah'underground mine yand 1 a portion kt2 "of circular cross-section that jare 'joinedat' 13. v'Mou'nte'dvvithin the portion -l 2 ,of Ythejventilat'or housing 10 and extending A`into 'theportin AIl is a `fan or`blower mechanism i4, the arbor or spindle otwhich is encased ina multi-pieced "streamlined iairing 15 which -is faired with Y'the 'hb of a fan or air impeller rotor having bla-des l. Positioned toene-side of theventilatorhousingl0 isa motor 'shed'll that' houses thedriving motory yt8 of the Ventilator. Extending between the motor shed Ik'! and 'into the fairing-f'lf-is a drive shaft'casing I9. The dvr-ive mechanism-:for the -fan or air impelljer vincludes the motor E B-W-hich Visconnected rthrough a'connector V2t^to afdrive Ashaft 2i thatlinc'ludes a pair of self-*centering universal joints 22 toan arbor or spindle mechanism 25 contained Withvinthe fairing I5.

Positionedvwithinthe motor shed llfand connected with the arbor orY spindle mechanism liti by conduitsis an apparatus 23' for determining the levelof the lubricant in the arbor lor 'the ventilator r'housing I 0.

' apart by a spacer sleeve 42.

2,511,535r f l Y Referring to Fig. 2, a portion of the ventilator seen in Fig. 1 is shown in section, said portion including parts of the rectangular and circular portions II and I2 of the housing Ill, a portion of the fan shed I1, the arbor or spindle mechanism 25, and the rotor 34 including blades I6. It is to be understood that the construction shown is more or less diagrammatic because the ventilator is drawn to a greatly reduced scale. The arbor or spindle mechanism 25 is mounted centrally in the housing by a pair of struts 24 and a pair of supports 26 that are of streamline cross-sectional contour and these supports extend through the inwardly tapering conical section or throat 21 of the circular portion I2 of the ventilator housing and are secured to the concrete base or foundation28 of the ventilator.

The arbor or spindle mechanism 25 supports the rotor 34 at its left end. A streamlined mem- Y purpose of the fairing I5 being to improve the air flow characteristics of the ventilator.

The drive shaft casing I9 extends through an opening 32 of a wall 33 of the motor shed and the conical throat section 21 into the streamlined nose piece 3l of the fairing I5 to complete the fairing structure for the arbor mechanism 25 and that portion of the drive shaft 2| that is within the ventilator housing. Preferably a fairing structure 35 (see Figs. 2 and 9) is positioned within the circular section I2 to the left of the drive shaft casing I9 and is secured t0 the nose piece 3l and the wall of the circular portion of the housing I9 to provide for correct air flow about the drive shaft casing.

The construction of the Ventilator housing Y is such that the drive shaft casing I9 may be shed and by drawing the casing I9 into the motor shed to permit the drive shaft 2I to be disconnected from the arbor or spindle 25 for permitting the removal of the arbor or spindle 25 from the housing I9 should it ever become necessary to repair it. Preferably the drive shaft housing I9, struts 24, and the arbor supports 28 are sealed to the throat section 21 of the Ventilator housing where they pass through it.

The arbor or spindle mechanism shown in Fig. 2 is drawn to a larger scale in Fig. 4. In this particular embodiment of my invention the mechanism of the arbor or spindle is contained within a shell-like housing or casing 38 that is of ogival external contour. The housing or casing 38 may be and preferably is a casting that provides in its nose a bore 39 that receives a bearing assembly 4B that includes a pair of open type anti-friction bearings 4I which are spaced- The inner end of the bore 39 provides a shoulder 43 against which the inner bearing 4I abuts. An arbor or spindle shaft 44 extends through and is supported by the bearings 4I. The arbor or spindle shaft 44 is splined at 45 for receiving a gear 46 that includes a hub 41. Hub 41 abuts the inner race of the inner bearing 4I. The forwardly extending end of shaft 44 carries a spacer sleeve 48 against which an end bearing 49, also of the open anti-friction type, is clamped by a suitable lock mechanism including a nut 5I and lock washer 52.

The opposite end of the shaft 44 carries the rotor 34 and is locked or clamped to the bearing assembly 40 by a pair of nuts 53. Thus the shaft 44, bearing assembly 40, gear 46, spacer sleeve 48, end bearing 49, nut 5I and lock washer 52 become a rigid assembly. A cap 54 fits the nose of the housing 38 and is provided with an inwardly extending shoulder or lip 55 that bears against and clamps the bearing assembly 40 within the bore 39 and against the shoulder 43 when screws 56 are tightened. A suitable gasket 51 is provided for sealing the cap 54 to the housing 38. The left-hand end of shaft 44, as viewed in the drawings, extends through a central opening in cap 54 and carries the rotor 34, the rotor being keyed and removably attached to the shaft. The cap 54 includes a packing 58 that forms a lubricant seal between the housing or casing 38 and the shaft. The opposite end of the housing 38 is closed by a disc-like plate 60 that includes a central bore 6I for receiving the end bearing 49. A cap 62 covers the outer end of the bore 6I in the plate 69 and is sealed by a gasket 63 against which it is clamped by screws 64.

From the description thus far given, it will be seen that the bearing assembly 49 only is secured against endwise movement in the arbor or spindle housing 39, the end bearing 49 being free to slide within the bore 6I of the end plate 60. Thus expansion and contraction of the arbor or spindle housing and shaft may occur Without damaging any of the arbor members. Furthermore, bearing assembly 48 takes the axial thrust on shaft 44 produced by rotor 34 when rotating. The entire support for rotor 34 and drive shaft 44 is through the bearings 40 and 49 housed by and carried at opposite ends of the housing 38,

Extending outwardly from the arbor housing 38 is a hollow boss 66 that is adapted to receive a pinion shaft 61 and its supporting anti-friction bearings. The pinion shaft 61 and its supporting bearings are secured in the bore of the boss 66 in a manner identical to that described in connection with the bearing assembly 43. The arbor or spindle mechanism 25 includes a sealed self-contained lubricating system. That is, the arbor or spindle housing 38 forms a sump adapted to contain lubricant into which the gear 46 extends and from which lubricant is continuously circulated to the arbor or spindle bearings during operation of the arbor. Positioned in the top of the arbor or spindle housing 38 is a pair of troughs or chutes 69 and 10 that function to catch lubricant slung or thrown from the sump by the gear 46 and to cause the lubricant thus caught to flow by gravity into Wells or receivers 1I and 12. The well or receiver 1I is formed in thev arbor or spindle housing 38, and the well or receiver 12 is formed in the plate 60.

Referring particularly to the arrangement of the well or receiver 1I in the housing 38 and to Vthe bearing assembly 40, the spacer sleeve 42 is grooved circumferentially in its outer surface, as seen at 13, and bored radially at 'I4 through the groove to provide lubricant passages therethrough. An opening, passage, or conduit 15 in the bottom orloor of the lubricant well or receiver 1l aligns with the peripheral groove 1l 11.1. the. spacer Sleeve i2- Lubneantucwsdpwnvrardly from the well 11. through the. opening-16, thev groove 13, and bores 14 into a. Docket orrecess lliA formed by the sleeve, 42 that functions to distribute and direct lubricant into the open bearings 4I from where. the lubricant ilows back into the sump.

The trough or chute conveys the lubricant which it catches. and spills, into the lubricant well or receiver 12 in the plate 69. The cap 62 is bulged outwardly to encloseV completely the end ofthe arbor shaft 44 and to. provide a lubricant pocket or distributor 11 which directs lubricant into the end bearing 49;. Lubricant, a-fter passing through the bearing 49, flows backl into the sump. The well or receiver. 12 and pocket or distributor IlV are connected by an opening, conduit, orpassagel that directs lubricant from the well Y12- intothe pocketzor` distributot 71.

` In operation, the gear 45 is driven. by a pinion gear 'I9 on the pinion shaft 6T and the teeth of the, gear, as well as its other surfaces, splash or sling lubricant from thesump upwardly where it is caught by the troughs 10 and conveyed to each end of the arbor housing 38- where` it is spelled into the receivers 1| and 12. The depth to which the housing` 381-islled: with lubricant is preferably below the bottoms of` the bearings 41! and 49. The preferred level is. indicated bya line 80. That portion of the housing38 which forms the sump is below this.A line. From the wells or receivers 1l andY 12; lubricant flows by reason of gravity into theY pocket or` distributor l1 andis directed therebyintothe-open type antifriction bearings from whichit flows baclct'o the sump to be recirculated.

The arbor or spindle housing.V 38 is.- provided above the trough or chuteJH) with a boss that is drilled and tapped at 82 to. provide a connection.

to` which a vent or a pressure balancingcondult 85 (see Fig. 3) is connected; Thek bottom of the arbor housing also includes. a boss that is drilled and tapped at 83 to provide for the connection of a lubricant supply conduit 88" thereto.

Referring now to Fig. 3, the portion--23of-the lubricating system connected to the arbor or spindle housing 25 is shown. The apparatusV 23 is positioned outside of the-ventilator housing and .within the motor` shedl Il; By=this mech-V anism the level of the lubricant within the sump is readily determined and'lubricantmay beintroduced into the arbor `orspindle housing or sump while the ventilatori-is in operation: When ventilators arein operation, the pressure within;

the.ventilator.housing is eitherl above or below the pressure on the-outside thereof, depending upon whether the ventilatorV is functioning to force fresh air into themineor towithdraw air from it. Were the housingk 381to, beopened di-- dut .1S-@missed ethe#unangemessenne@ reservoir et;

bottom of the arbor. or spindle housing' and: @Xd tends outwardly; through the fairing n I5'and into thev motor shed Ii'l. Connected between the venty conduit and the supply conduit 86 within the't motor shed `I'l isa liquid level indicator in the'v form; of a sight tube 8l for indicating thelevelofi-the lubricant within the sump of housing 38.4 Connected through themedium of a valve 88 and a valve 89, which will hereinafter be called a vent valve and Supply valve, respectively, is a container or reservoir 90 that contains fresh lu bricant; which may be added to the sump through thesupply conduit 86.

ReferringV particularly to Fig. 6, the reservoir 90 is connected atY its bottom through pipes 9| and. 92l to the supply valve 89 and the top of the tanlry 90 is connected' through a pipe 93 to the vent valve 88. The top of the reservoir 90 is provided with a closure member 94 in the form of al removable air tight cap that may be removed to. replenish lubricant therein. The pipes described include suitable connector ttings, and. connected between the pipes 93 and 9| and ex tending alongside the reservoir 90 is a liquid levelv indicating device or sight tube 95 by which theA level ofV the4 lubricant within the reservoir 90 is determined.

Assuming that the reservoir 90 requires filling.. the valves 88 and 89 are both closed and the closure: member 94 is removed, whereupon the reservoir is completely filled with lubricant andi the'.A closure'l member 94 replaced to prevent they ingress of air to the reservoir 90 when lubricant, is removed therefrom.

When it becomes necessary to introduce lubricant intothe sump, the vent valve 88 is opened'tot permit a transfer or equalization of air pressures above the lubricant in the arbor housing 38 through the vent conduit 85 and to the top of the The valve 89' is now opened and hydrostatic force causes lubricant to flow through the supply conduit 85 into the sump. When the necessaryquantity of'lubricant has been admittedtothe sump, as determined by the sight tube B'Lthe valve 85 is closed. It is necessary to isolateA completely the supply mechanism from the arbor housingonly while the reservoir ilisbeing filled. Otherwise it issuflicient to close supply Valve 89 in the conduit 86 to isolate the lubricant in, the reservoir from the sump. Lubricant may bedrained from the system Yby removing drain plu-1915;

It is to be noted that the valves 98 and 89 do not-isolate the sight gauge-81 from the sump nor do theyV isolate the sight gauge 95 from the reservoir 9B; but they do function to isolate' both the reservoir 9E! and sight gauge S5 as a unit or assembly from the sump to permit filling ofthe reservoir. Thus, the gauges 8l and 95 function tqfindicate accurately the level of the lubricant in,u the respective compartments to `which they are connected;

I have described the operation of the lubricant supply apparatus 23 whilewbeing used to introduce lubricant into the arbor housingI or sump while rvthe! ventilator is in operation, but it will be seen that the apparatus is usable for iilling or replenishing the lubricant'in the sump when the ventilator is not in operation. However, as previously described, the iiller mechanism 23 is most used when the ventilator is in operation because it is undesirable to stop the operation of the ventil'ator.

Referring now to Fig. '7, a ventilator is `shown `that includes another :embodiment Vofmyinveninvention is shown in detail in Fig. 8 and includes through the housing 33 and bearinged therein by .means identical to that shown in the arbbr or i spindle of Figs. 2 and l is an arbor or spindle shaft L M4 that extends outwardly throughfthe'disclike plate 60 and carries a pulley' |0|.

tilatol cover or cap 04 that completely encloses one sideA "25 .housing |03. Preferably the conduits |09 andanimen tion. The arbor or spindle .of this ventilators belt driven; the belts extending from a pulley mounted on the arbor or spindle shaft through a i. 'suitable housing 00 into the motor shed 'and about a pulley on the motor shaft. vIn this emhousing.

The arbor or spindleof this embodiment ofmyY the'housing 38 from which the pinion andl its associated shaft parts are omitted, the'boss 'being closed by a suitable cap, not shown.v Extending Y The endof this portion of the shaft |44 is'supported-b'y-ani '20 open type anti-friction bearing |92 that is mounted in a bearing housing s3 supported on a stand I4 anchored to the concrete baseV |28 of the ven- The bearing housing |03 includes an end of .the bearingr |92 and the end of the shaft |44 and forms a pof'ket or distributor |05 for directing lubricant into the bearing |02. l

vrThe inner side of bearing- .housing |03 carries a cover member IEE that surrounds the shaft |44. '30' and is provided with a lubricant seal |07 that seals it with the shaft |44; rEhe cover member |06 forms a pocket |38 into which lubricant flows after it passes through bearing |02 and from where it is returned to the sump in the arbor Orl spindle housing 38 through a suitable conduit |09.

In this embodiment of my invention the lubrication system for the bearings in the arbor or spindle housing 33 is also identical to that described in connection with the embodiment shown in Figs. 2 and 4, except that the gear 46 is substituted by a slinger or splasher Wheel |0 that functions to raise, elevate or throw lubricant from the sump into the troughs 69 and 10. The lubricant is spilled from the troughs into the wells 1| '45 and 72. Connected into the well 'l2 in disc-like plate 60 is a conduit or passageway that conveys lubricant therefrom into the pocket or distributor |05 formed by cap |04 of the bearing include unions H2, and conduit |09 includes a valve |3 for isolating the bearing housing from the sump.

When it becomes necessary to replace any or all of the belts that connect the motor and arbor, valve I3 may be closed and the housing 03 may be removed from bearing |02 by removing the cover member |06. New belts may be placed on the pulley |9| by disconnecting the unions l2 to split conduits |09 and In this embodiment of my invention the cap 02 on the disc-like plate is replaced by a cover member identical to cover member |06.

In operation, in this embodiment lubricant ilows from the well 12 into the cover plate 60 to ,155 :Shaft extending thrughrarsde Wan of said h0us both the bearings 49 and |32 and is returned therefrom to the sump to be recirculated.

From the foregoing description of my invention it will .be seen that my invention provides an efllcient mechanism whereby lubricant may be introduced into a chamber upon which other ,forces function to reduce or increase the gas pressure therein substantially without affecting said pressure and that such has enabled me to proyide a ventilator in which the lubricant 'levelqs l streamline construction.

'in the arbor' or-spindle fmay'be determined and maintained from'loutside the ventilator housing and preferably 'from'within thepmotor shed. It

will also be seen that Ihave provided an improved Vfan or impeller lspindle or arbor wherein the ventilator rotor is Ycarried by shaft 44 that is mounted by spaced anti-friction Vbearing means 40 and 49 Which are enclosed Within'th'e housing A38 and Vare lubricated by lubricant contained within a sump in the housing, which'lubricant is circulated'by a'lubrication system whereinlubricant islifted, thrown or slung from the sump to an elevated Yposition from whence it flows by reason yof hydrostatic force through the shaft bearingsV and is'returned to the sumpV of the f housing to'fbe recirculated. Furthermore,fthe

bearing assembly .'40 constitutes a thrust bearing to take the axialload developed by the'rotor 34 in operation.' a consequence of my structure only two bearing assemblies are required for supporting the'rot'oi". l

In Vthe 'embodiment disclosed, particularlyin Figs. 1 and 2 of thedrawings, the rotor is driven from a Ymotor 'I8 contained within motor shed which is located entireh7 outside the'fan casing or Ahousing I0. As a consequence of this fact, the Ydrive'shaft 2| extends through the air stream since it extends' through the outer fan casing' or housing Ylil` and the "centrally located fairing v|5. It is to be noted, however, that the drive shaft 2| is not exposed directly to the streamrof iiowing air, but is housed by drive shaft housing I9 which with the fairing 35 provides a generally Furthermore, it is also to :be noted that the lubricatingmechanism by which lubricating oil in the arbor housing 38 is'replenished is by virtue of the lubricating apparatus 23 which is falso located entirely outside the air stream and within the motor shed As a consequence of this fact the pressure equalizin-g VandY lubricating Vsupply `conduits and'86 also extend through the air stream'since they extendbetween the ventilator housing |,I andthe fairing l5.

Obviously those skilled in theA art may make various changes in the details Vand arrangement support afan and forming a sump for lubricant,

spaced aligned anti-friction bearingsV in said housing positioned above the level of said sump,V

a fanshaft extending through said housing and carried by said bearings, sealing means disposed Y between said shaft and housing, a geardrivingly Amounted Von said shaft extending intorsaid sump and functioning as. a lubricant slinger, a drive ing, anti-frictionbearing means supporting said fdrive shaft, a gear mounted on the inner end of Vsaid drive shaft-driving .said first namedY gear and fan shaft,'a lubricant Well formed by said housing above each of said fan shaft bearings,

trough means in.. said housing adapted'to catch lubricant `thrown' from said sump by said'rst named gearhand convey said. lubricant Yto said Wells, ,and passages leading from said wells to said b'earings'whereby lubricant flows from said wells to said bearings and baciato-said sump'byl reason of gravity.

2; A completely encloseddrive1 mechanism .par-n ticularly adapted for use in a Iventilator 'includingin combination a structuralV housing adapted t0-r ing, anti-friction bearing means supporting said.

drive shaft, a gear mounted on the inner end of said drive shaft driving said rst named gear and ian shaft, a lubricant 'well in said housing abnvef each of said fan shaft bearings, trough means in said housing adapted .to. .catch lubricant thrown from said sumpbysaid first named gear and convey sai-d lubricant to said wells, and passages leading from said Wells to said bearings whereby lubricant ows from said wells to said bearings and back lto said sump by reason of gravity.

3. In a fan spindleassembly,a stationary'housing forming a Vsum-p -forlubricant, a shaft extending through said housing adapted to carry a fan, sealing means disposed between said; shaf and housing preventing the escape of lubricantfrom said housing, spaced open type anti-frictionbearings supporting said shaft positioned above the level of said sump, means functioning as a lubricant slinger disposed in said housing mounted for rotation with said shaft and extending into said sump, lubricant wells formed by said housing above the level of said bearings, means adjacent a side of each of said open anti-friction bearings forming pockets directing lubricant into said open anti-friction bearings, conduit means interconnecting said wells and pockets, and trough means in said housing adapted to catch lubricant slung from said sump by said slinger means and convey said lubricant to said wells whereby said lubricant is lifted from said sumpl and caused to flow by gravity through said trough means, Wells, conduits, and pockets through said open anti-friction bearings and return to the sump by reason of gravity.

4. In a fan spindle assembly, a stationary hous ing forming a sump for lubricant, a shaft extending through said housing adapted to carry a fan, spaced open type anti-friction bearings supporting said shaft positioned above the level of said sump, means functioning as a lubricant slinger disposed in said housing mounted for rotation with said shaft and extending into said. sump, lubricant wells formed by said housing above the level of said bearings disposed to receive lubricant slung from said sump by said slinger means, means adjacent a side of each of said open antifriction bearings forming pockets directing lubricant into said open anti-friction bearings, and conduit means interconnecting said wells and pockets whereby said lubricant is lifted from said sump and caused to flow by gravity through said wells, conduits, and pockets through said open anti-friction bearings and return to the sump by reason of gravity.

5. A fan spindle assembly including a stationary housing forming a sump for lubricant, a, shaft in said housing extending through an end wall thereof and adapted to carry a fan on its extending end, sealing means disposed between said shaft and housing preventing the escape of lubricant from said housing, spaced open type antidrivinglytu friction bearings supporting said 'shaftpositioned aboveA the'levelI ofsaid sump and Within said'housing, gear means Vdrivinglyl mounted. on said shaft: extending: into said sump and functioning .as

a lubricant slinger, lubricant wells formedv by.y said housing above 'the level of said bearings, means adjacent a side of each of said bearings formingpockets for directinglubricant into a side of each of said open anti-friction bearings, con.-

vduit means interconnecting said wells Yand :poele:-

ets', trough 4means in said housing adapted to catch-lubricant slung from said sumpby saidgear and convey said lubricant to said wells, .and Ya power driven pinion gear in said housing driving- 4said rstnamed gear whereby said lubricant .is

. shaft and housing. preventing the escape of lubricant from said housing, spaced open type ant-i friction bearings supporting said shaft positioned above the level of said sump and within said housing, gear means drivingly mounted on said lshaft extending into said sump and functioning asv ra lubricant slinger, 'lubricant wells formed by said housing above the level ofV said bearings dis.- posed to receive lubricant slung from said sump by said gear, means adjacent a side of each of said bearings forming pockets for directing lubricant into a side of each of said open anti-friction bearings, conduit means interconnecting said Wells and pockets, and a power driven pinion gear in said housing driving said rst named gear whereby said lubricant is lifted from said sump and caused to ow by gravity through said wells, conduits, pockets, and through said open bearings and return to the sump by reason of gravity.

7. A fan spindle assembly including a stationary housing forming a sump for lubricant7 a shaft in said housing extending through an end wall thereof and adapted to carry a fan on its extending end, sealing means disposed between sm'd shaft and housing preventing the escape of lubricant from said housing, spaced open type antifriction bearings supporting said shaft positioned above the level of said sump and within said housing, gear means drivingly mounted on said shaft extending into said sump and functioning as a lubricant slinger, lubricant wells in said housing above the level of said bearings, means adjacent a side of each of said bearings forming pockets for directing lubricant into a side of each of said open anti-friction bearings, conduit means interconnecting said wells and pockets, trough means in said housing adapted to catch lubricant slung from said sump by said gear and convey said lubricant to said wells, and a power driven pinion gear in said housing driving said rst named gear whereby said lubricant is lifted from said sump and caused to flow by gravity through said trough means, wells, conduits, pockets, and through said open bearings and return to the sump by reason of gravity.

8. In a fan spindle assembly a stationary housing forming a sump for lubricant, a shaft extending through said housing adapted to carry a ian, spaced open type anti-friction bearings in said housing supporting said shaft and positioned above the level of said sump, a lubricant slinger disposed in said housing mounted for rotation with said shaft and extending into vsaid sump, v

lubricant Wells formed by said housing above the level of said bearings disposed to receive lubri- I cant slung by said slinger, means adjacent a, side of each of said bearings forming a, pocket directing lubricant into said bearing, conduit means connecting said wells and pockets, a second stationary housing spaced from said rst housing, an open type anti-friction bearing in said second housing carrying an end of said shaft, a pulley on said shaft disposed between said housings, means adjacent a side of said bearing forming a, pocket directing lubricant into said bearing, conduit means connecting said pocket with one of said wells, and conduit means connecting said last named housing with said sump whereby lubricant is lifted from said sump and caused to flow by gravity through said wells, conduits and pockets through said bearings and return to said sump by gravity.

9. In a fan arbor assembly a stationary housing forming a sump for lubricant, a shaft extending into said housing adapted to carry a fan, an open type anti-friction bearing in said housing supporting said shaft and positioned above the level of said sump, a lubricant slinger disposed in said housing mounted for rotation with said shaft and extending into said sump, a lubricant well in said housing above the level of said bearing disposed to receive lubricant slung by said slinger, means adjacent a side of said bearing forming a pocket directing lubricant into said bearing, a passageway for lubricant connecting said well and pocket, a second stationary housing spaced from said rst housing, an open type antifriction bearing Vin said housing carrying said shaft, a pulley on said shaft disposed between said housings, means adjacent a side or said bearing forming a pocket directing lubricant into said bearing, conduit means connecting said pocket with said well, and conduit means connecting said last named housing with said sump whereby lubricant is lifted from said sump and caused to ow by gravity through said well, conduits, and pockets through said bearings and return to said sump by gravity.

ARTHUR L. LEE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the f le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,014,628 Lieber Jan. 9, 1912 1,200,172 Danver Oct. 3, 1916 1,311,878 Darling Aug. 5, 1919 1,328,843 Martin Jan. 27, 1920 1,445,518 Kokesh Feb. 13, 1923 1,451,232 Murdock Apr. 10, 1923 1,843,070 Shoemaker Jan. 26, 1932 2,335,508 Gustafsson et al. Nov. 30, 1943 2,407,807 Bentley Sept. 17, 1946 

